The Wisteria Train 9

Wisteria's eyes flickered slightly, as if he were considering whether to agree.

After a brief moment, he handed over the notebook. “Of course. It's just some ordinary weather records, nothing you can't look at.”

Bai Ci reached out and took the notebook. She didn't examine it closely, instead just flipping through a few pages casually, much like an ordinary person looking at something they didn't understand but were curious about.

The notebook was very new. Including the entry written today, there were only three pages in total.

The format of the records inside was almost identical to the notebook belonging to Vigi, the dining car attendant. It was also composed of numbers, symbols, hand-drawn charts, and various weather parameters.

But how to put it... the extreme similarity didn't make Wisteria look professional. Instead, it made his writing seem more like a cheap imitation.

Though, it was also possible that Vigi was the one imitating Wisteria.

However, Bai Ci instinctively felt that this was unlikely. In Vigi's notebook, the handwriting for the various parameter units was much more elegant and practiced, looking far more like someone who had written them countless times.

She closed the notebook and casually handed it back to Wisteria, her face relaxing with the satisfaction of having her curiosity appeased. “So this is the format for weather logs. Thank you, Mr. Wisteria, for giving me the opportunity to broaden my horizons.”

“By the way, Mr. Wisteria, do you know where the attendant on duty went? I was thinking about whether I should wait for a bit.”

At this point, Bai Ci pivoted the conversation and asked smoothly, “Speaking of which, do the train attendants usually eat their meals in the dining car as well?”

Wisteria took back the notebook and slipped it casually into his uniform pocket.

“Yes, the attendants all eat in the dining car. For convenience and uniform organization, they are provided with set meals. They aren't particularly exquisite, but they are filling enough.”

Having said that, Wisteria paused noticeably before continuing, “The dining car attendant on duty has returned. If you head over now, you should be able to get some breakfast.”

Bai Ci looked back. Although separated by glass and door curtains, it wasn't hard to tell from the brightness of the dining car that the remaining lamps were being lit one by one.

Turning back, Bai Ci extended a lighthearted invitation, as if making a casual suggestion, “I wonder if you're free, Mr. Wisteria? Would you like to join me in the dining car for a bite to eat?”

“Eating alone is rather boring. It would be nice to have someone to talk to.”

As she spoke, she observed Wisteria's expression, calculating in her mind what reactions the two would have when he and Vigi crossed paths.

Wisteria's gaze paused. He didn't answer immediately, his eyes slowly drifting down to Bai Ci's neck. “Why, Miss Lora?”

“Why what?” Bai Ci was taken aback for a moment. She ignored his gaze but had no intention of playing dumb to the end.

Thus, she quickly put on an expression of sudden realization. “Are you asking why I invited you, Mr. Wisteria?”

“I really enjoy listening to stories, and your surname, Mr. Wisteria, is of a kind I've never heard before. It has a long pronunciation too, which is usually hard to remember.”

“So I was wondering, what kind of story lies behind a surname like that?”

“‘Wisteria’ is a given name,” Wisteria corrected.

Bai Ci's mind went blank for a fraction of a second. Did he just say a word that sounded very similar to his name?

Fortunately, the instance language pack provided by the Anomalous Infection was highly robust and translated it for her.

“It means wisteria, right? It's a very beautiful name. It seems I will remember it for a long time,” Bai Ci replied, offering a compliment along the way.

First she met Violet (Violita), and now there was Wisteria. Is this some kind of flower-themed train? she couldn't help but wonder.

Having received her answer, Wisteria slowly averted his gaze, declining with a smile on his face, “My apologies, Miss Lora. I still have some work to attend to, so I won't be able to accompany you for your meal.”

Bai Ci felt a trace of disappointment in her heart, but she didn't push it.

After all, she knew that Wisteria harbored too many secrets to easily let down his guard.

She nodded slightly. “That's quite alright. I won't disrupt your work then, Mr. Wisteria. I'll head to the dining car first.”

“Very well.” Wisteria gave a gentle nod, his gaze falling once more upon the rain and mist outside the window. “Enjoy your meal, Miss Lora.”

Bai Ci smiled and turned to walk back toward the dining car.

She did not look back, and naturally missed what happened after she turned around. Wisteria slowly raised his hand, wrapping it around his own throat, and once again murmured in a low voice, “So hungry...”

When she returned to the dining car, she indeed saw Vigi leaning against the counter. He was holding a piece of bread, chewing on it dryly, with that same world-weary expression on his face.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up and saw Bai Ci. “Wait. The chef isn't awake yet. If you're hungry, there's only cold bread.”

After waiting a little longer, perhaps a few minutes, the lights in the kitchen turned on, and the clattering sounds of pots and pans drifted out.

Vigi had just finished choking down his dry bread. He glanced in Bai Ci's direction and grumbled testily, “Don't you nobles ever sleep properly? Coming to the dining car at the crack of dawn.”

Bai Ci followed his gaze and looked behind her. Violita, pushed in his wheelchair by Marg, had also arrived at the dining car.

Violita's face was still pale, but his spirits seemed much improved. Seeing Bai Ci look over, he smiled slightly and nodded.

Vigi handed each of them a menu, gesturing for them to order quickly.

Bai Ci didn't plan on arguing with him. After all, Vigi's attitude was naturally abrasive, and bickering with him wasn't a good way to obtain useful clues.

Under Vigi's pressuring gaze, the two placed their orders.

Vigi said nothing more. He turned and walked into the kitchen, still muttering something under his breath—likely complaining about how troublesome nobles were.

The two sat down at a table. Bai Ci looked at Violita and asked casually, “You woke up so early too? How is your body feeling?”

Violita nodded. “Much better. Thanks to you keeping me company and chatting with me yesterday, I slept very soundly. After waking up, the pain in my body has eased quite a bit.”

He paused, then added, “It's raining outside. I thought I'd come to the dining car to grab a bite to eat and watch the rain. When I saw you weren't in your seat, I knew you must have come here as well.”

“I'm glad I could be of help,” Bai Ci replied with a smile.

“When I was coming to the dining car just now, I met Trainmaster Wisteria at the carriage connection. He was recording the weather, and he mentioned that it's part of the trainmaster's duties.”

“I even took a glance at his records. Although I didn't understand them, there was a lot written down. He seems to be very meticulous.”

Hearing the name “Trainmaster Wisteria,” a flash of confusion and doubt appeared on Violita's face.

His reaction vanished quickly, but Bai Ci had been closely observing him the entire time.

Coupled with her own talent in acting, his brief confusion did not escape her notice.

“Is that so? What a pity. I didn't happen to run into him,” Violita remarked casually, before steering the conversation in a different direction.

“I wonder if there will be a chance to meet the deputy trainmaster of the Mary.”

“I've heard long ago that this deputy trainmaster is a descendant of the engineer who built this railway route. Despite being so young, his level in meteorological observation is second to none.”